The core theory of his rant is that the consumer-fed proliferation of Starbucks is cementing the following equation in the public consciousness:
great espresso = warmed up $5 pumpkin pie/egg nog milkshake with a dash of mediocre espresso

His post raises some interesting questions, even if I don’t believe the alarmist message that Starbucks is sending quality coffee back to the Folgers crystals ages.

If I compare the espresso in America to what I had been drinking for the past three weeks across Portugal, it’s clear that America has a long way to go before “going out for a good espresso” means simply walking up to the nearest café. Such a task in America largely requires a rather decisive act of planning and coordinated transportation (if not also airfare, depending on the location). However, if we compare where we are today versus 15 years ago, getting a mediocre espresso has become far more convenient in a way that was unthinkable back then. That much is progress.

Looking at the high end of the scale, I don’t see the proliferation of Starbucks really hurting the elite cafés producing top-notch coffee. If anything, I think the mainstream awareness and availability of Starbucks has served as a suitable “gateway drug” to hard core coffee enthusiasm — ultimately resulting in a greater demand for coffee of the highest quality available. And the numbers reflect this. Over the past 15 years, the number of cafés making truly great coffee has grown from a handful per time zone to a handful per state. And again, that much is progress.